Picking, William Thomas

William Thomas was born at Ashwell, Hertfordshire 9 August 1885, second son of Walter and Annie (nee Cole) Picking. He was a pupil at the Merchant Taylor School in Ashwell.

William enlisted on 29 November 1905. He served with the Royal Army Service Corps, Regimental Number T/23856, as a driver with the 1^st Railway Supply Detachment and saw active service on the Western Front, France and Flanders. He embarked to France with The First Expeditionary force and took part in the retreat from Mons. In 1916 on his way to the trenches William had bumped into another Ashwell man, Percy Holloway. William survived the War.

William was awarded the 1914 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

He is commemorated on the St Mary’s Church Ashwell Roll of Honour.

Before enlisting he was a bricklayer’s labourer.

William married Florence Mabel Pratt at Camberwell, London in the 4^th quarter of 1917. They had three children, all born in Ashwell: Alan W born 1920, Leon F born 1928 and Ivan E born 1930.

The 1939 census shows them living in Ashwell with William a painter’s labourer.

William died at Ashwell on 19 March 1959 and is buried in the St Mary’s Church, Ashwell cemetery.

William’s brother, Walter, was killed in action at Ypres, on the Western Front.